MAN UTD'S RECENT FORM:
Manchester United 2 Benfica 2
NOVEMBER 22: Champions League Group C at Old Trafford.
Swansea 0 Manchester United 1
NOVEMBER 19: Barclays Premier League at the Liberty Stadium.
Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0
NOVEMBER 5: Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford.
Manchester United 2 Otelul Galati 0
NOVEMBER 2: Champions League Group C at Old Trafford.
Everton 0 Manchester United 1
OCTOBER 29: Barclays Premier League at Goodison Park.
Aldershot 0 Manchester United 3
OCTOBER 25: Carling Cup fourth round at the Recreation Ground.
MAN UTD'S LAST FIXTURE:
MAN UTD 2 BENFICA 2
MAN UTD: De Gea, Fabio Da Silva (Smalling 82), Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia (Hernandez 80), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Young, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Giggs, Park, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson.
BENFICA: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao (Miguel Vitor 58), Garay, Emerson, Witsel, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Aimar (Amorim 83), Rodrigo Moreno, Gaitan (Matic 67).
Subs Not Used: Eduardo, Cardozo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira.
Att: 74, 853
Manchester United's Champions League hopes suffered a major setback at Old Trafford tonight as they failed to overcome a stubborn Benfica outfit.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men must avoid defeat to FC Basle in Switzerland next month in order to book a place in the last 16.
However, they would almost certainly have to go through as runners-up as, though they are level on points with Benfica, they trail the Portuguese giants on head-to-head record.
United only have themselves to blame too after battling back from conceding an early goal to lead through goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher, only to let Pablo Aimar snaffle another for the visitors, who are now through with only a home game against Group C whipping boys Otelul Galati to come.
To make matters worse, United's best player this evening, Michael Carrick, will miss the final game through suspension.
After five successive clean sheets, it came as a hammer blow for United to concede after only three minutes.
That the ball should be turned into the net by one of their own just made the pain more acute.
Benfica had already made a bright start when Nicolas Gaitan found himself enough space to whizz over a low cross that flicked off Patrice Evra.
Jones was well placed to clear, only to stick out a foot and turn the ball past stranded goalkeeper David De Gea.
Seven days after being likened to Franco Baresi by England manager Fabio Capello, this was the other side of the footballing coin for the 19-year-old, who looked somewhat shell-shocked as the visitors celebrated their good fortune.
With Wayne Rooney missing with the hip problem that kept him out of training yesterday and free-scoring Mexican Javier Hernandez on the bench, it was suddenly a major test of mettle for those Sir Alex Ferguson had called upon.
Initially it looked as though they would not rise to the challenge.
With Bruno Cesar, who went close with a 20-yard drive, and Gaitan pulling the strings, a second for Benfica looked a distinct possibility.
It was a Nani free-kick and Ashley Young's snap-shot that gave United the impetus to launch their fightback.
Leading the attack, Berbatov had not scored in Europe since his brace against Celtic in October 2008. If ever the £30.75million Bulgarian was going to prove his worth, this needed to be it.
And when Nani curled over an excellent cross on the half-hour, Berbatov finally delivered, touching his header into the far corner.
United should have been ahead a minute later when Berbatov sent Young through, only for the England man to drill a shot against Artur's legs.
Axel Witsel gave the hosts a scare moments later, although United were starting to gain control and it took an excellent tackle from Ezequiel Garay to deny Berbatov a second.
The momentum was maintained after the restart but for some reason, after jinking his way to within touching distance of the Benfica goal, Berbatov attempted to find Young with a cutback rather than squeeze out a shot himself and the chance was lost.
Fabio was denied by Artur after a forceful run from Jones before Evra delivered the brilliant cross that Fletcher met after making a perfectly-timed run.
Artur denied the Scot's first effort but from the rebound Fletcher had a tap-in.
Old Trafford breathed a collective sigh of relief.
But those who felt the hard work had been done were in for a nasty shock as De Gea's weak clearance allowed Cesar to charge into the United box.
Though his cross was blocked by Rio Ferdinand, Aimar gobbled up the rebound.
Young rightly argued he had not been offside before giving Berbatov the easiest of finishes. Unfortunately, Antonio Valencia had been and up went the flag.
Having dug his team out of one hole, Berbatov should have done it again 12 minutes from time when Fabio floated a cross into the box.
The striker beat the offside trap but, leaning back, sent his first-time volley over from 12 yards.
Hernandez's introduction for Valencia was a fairly obvious move after that but though United pressed, the elusive winner would not come.
NEXT GAME: v MAN UTD (A)
Saturday 26th November 2011
Kick-Off: 3pm
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 20011/12
PREMIER LEAGUE
MAN CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gosling)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 76), Guthrie, Cabaye (Perch 85), Gutierrez, Ba, Sammy Ameobi (Gosling 79).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Smith, Shola Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 2 EVERTON 1 (Heitinga og, R Taylor)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Marveaux (Sammy Ameobi 54), Cabaye (Gosling 37), Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 73), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Lovenkrands, Perch.
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Barr 3)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Guthrie (Gosling 90), Cabaye (Perch 78), Gutierrez, Best (Sammy Ameobi 86), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Marveaux.
NEWCASTLE 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 (Cabaye)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 76), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 46), Ba (Shola Ameobi 68).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Santon, Perch, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 2 (Ba, Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson (Santon 77), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba (Ben Arfa 71).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Gosling, Marveaux.
WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, Gutierrez)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 90), Cabaye (Guthrie 89), Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba (Lovenkrands 71).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 3 BLACKBURN 1 (Ba 3)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Marveaux 84), Ba (Ben Arfa 74), Best.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch, Sammy Ameobi.
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Best)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 85), Best (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba (Marveaux 80).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 88), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Marveaux 82), Shola Ameobi (Ba 64).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.
NEWCASTLE 2 FULHAM 1 (Best 2)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands (Ba 62), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Obertan, Best (Vuckic 78), Vuckic (Smith 85).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (R Taylor)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye (Williamson 85), Barton, Obertan (Gosling 85), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Lovenkrands, Ba, Best, Marveaux.
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Simpson, Barton, Cabaye (Lovenkrands 81), Tiote, Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi (Best 73), Ba (Obertan 46).
Subs Not Used: Forster, Williamson, Gosling, Sammy Ameobi.
CARLING CUP
BLACKBURN 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (AET) Guthrie, Cabaye, Lovenkrands (pen)
Krul, Simpson (Sammy Ameobi 70), Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux (Obertan 77), Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 79), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ranger.
NOTTINGHAM FOR. 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (AET) Lovenkrands 2, Simpson, Coloccini
Elliot, Simpson, Coloccini, Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Guthrie, Gosling (Shola Ameobi 70), Marveaux, Ben Arfa (Sammy Ameobi 70), Lovenkrands (Obertan 80).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Best, Dummett, Henderson.
SCUNTHORPE 1 NEWCASTLE 2 AET (R Taylor, Sammy Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson (Steven Taylor 45), Ryan Taylor, Marveaux, Gosling (Vuckic 70), Cabaye, Lovenkrands, Best, Ba (Sammy Ameobi 65).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Abeid, Smith, Ferguson.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
NEWCASTLE 0 FIORENTINA 0 (Ab 63 mins)
Krul (Forster 46), Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gosling (Ba 46), Cabaye, Vuckic, Jonas (Marveaux 46) Lovenkrands (R Taylor 61), Best (Shola Ameobi 46).Subs: Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier, Williamson.
LEEDS UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (S.Taylor, Vuckic)
Forster, Cabaye, Williamson, Barton, Simpson, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Taylor, Tavernier. Subs: Krul, Taylor, Best, Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
COLUMBUS CREW 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ameobi, Coloccini, Vuckic)
Harper; Tavernier, S Taylor, Coloccini (Dummett, 54), Enrique; Gutierrez (Abeid, 85), Tiote (Smith, 62), Gosling, Marveaux (Vuckic, 76); Ameobi (Best, 75), Ba. Subs not used: Forster, Krul.
ORLANDO CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Forster; R Taylor (Enrique, 26), S Taylor, Coloccini, Tavernier; Gosling (Vuckic, 71), Smith (Abeid, 74), Tiote, Gutierrez; Best (Ba, 74), Lovenkrands (Ameobi, 74). Subs not used: Krul, Harper.
SPORTING KANSAS 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Gosling, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Marveaux (Tavernier 46), Tiote (Abeid 46), Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Ba (Best 72), Lovenkrands (Smith 46).
DARLINGTON 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Barton, Sammy Ameobi)
Forster; Simpson (Dummett), S Taylor (Tavernier), Williamson (Henderson), Ferguson (R Taylor); Barton (Abeid), Guthrie (Cabaye, Donaldson), Smith (Gosling), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi); Ben Arfa (Richardson), Best (Ranger). Subs not used: Soderberg, Newton.